Handle lock for vacuum cleaners



Jan. 9, 1934. E. s. CRISPIN I 1,943,153

HANDLE: LOOK FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Nov. 14, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 9,1934. E, R|$P|N 1,943,163

HANDLE LOOK FOR VACUUM. CLEANERS Fiied Nov". 14. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ida??? S Cris 0:71

Patented Jan; 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Company, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Detroit,

Application November 14, 1932 Serial No. 642,677

9 Claims. (01. 306-11) This invention relates to a locking device adapted to be associated with the handle of a vacuum cleaner or the like.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a locking device of the above mentioned character which may be associated with a pivotally mounted handle and which will operate to securely hold the handle in a predetermined position with relation to the casing or the like to which the handle is pivotally secured.

Still further the invention contemplates the provision of a locking device of the above mentioned character which will be simple in construction' and which may therefore be economically manufactured.

Numerous other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawings 29 wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a vacuum cleaner showing a locking device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention associated with the handle thereof;

25 Fig. 2 is a perspective view with parts broken away of the locking device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the locking device showing the side of the sameopposite to that shown in Fig. 2; see Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring then particularly to the drawings 35 wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout all views, there is shown in Fig. 1 a vacuum cleaner which comprises the motor casing 10, the fan casing 11 and the suction tool 12 which, in the embodiment illustrated, is in the form of a suction nozzle directly secured to the fan casing; In accordance with the usual practice, the vacuum cleaner may be suitably supported by wheels'13.

4 For moving the vacuum cleaner about the floor,

holding the end of the furcation on the stud 16.

there is provided, in accordance with the usual practice, a handle 14 having a bifurcated end,

It will be understood that the other furcation (not shown) is pivotally secured to the other side of the motor casing so that the handle may move from the upright position shown in Fig. 1 to various angular positions with reference to the motor casing, which positions the handle assumes during use of the vacuum cleaner.

Associated with one of the furcations is a locking device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. This locking device comprises an enlarged head formed on the end of one of the furcations and a plate 21 pivotally secured to one side of this enlarged head as by a stud or the like 22. This plate is adapted to lie flush against the inner face of the head 20 and is limited in its pivotal movement by a boss 23 formed on the head 20 and projecting into an enlarged opening 24 formedin the plate.

For normally urging the plate 21 in a forward direction or beyond the end of the furcation, the plate is provided with a struck-out lug 25 adapted to be engaged by one end of a coil spring 26 mounted in a bore 2'1 formed in a boss 28 which extends longitudinally of the head 20. The rear face of the head adjacentthe qpen end of the bore 27 is preferably slotted as at 29 to receive the lug 25 when the plate 21 is moved rearwardly against the force exerted by the spring 26.

Fixed to the rear face of the fan housing 11 is a bracket which supports a roller 36. This roller may, as illustrated, be conveniently sup ported by the upturned ears 37 formed on the bracket.

The bracket '35 is so positioned that the roller 36 is engaged by the edge 38 of the plate 21 during pivotal movement of the handle 14. Formed in the edge 38 of the plate is a recess 39 of a size to receive the roller when the handle is in its upright position. The upper edge 40 of the recess is preferably shaped to provide a sharp shoulder which prevents movement of the roller upwardly out of the recess and thus wevents movement of the handle forwardly beyond the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The

lower edge 41 of the recess is so shaped that if the handle is in its upright position the roller may be forced out of the recess by exerting a suflicient force on the handle tending to move the same rearwardly' out of its upright position. A cam face 42 is formed on the edge 38 below the recess 39, this cam face being so shaped as to em gage the roller 36 during pivotal movement of the handle to thus urge the plate rearwardly so that the roller may-be engaged in the recess 39.

a roller.

It will be apparent that the roller 36 constitutes a catch or projection adapted to be engaged by the latch member or plate 21 pivotally mounted on the handle. Thus, whenever the roller is engaged in the recess 39, the handle is yieldably locked in a predetermined position.

In operation it will be apparent that the spring 26 will constantly urge the plate 21 forwardly so that the forward edge 38 thereof will engage the roller 36. When the handle is moved to itsupright position, the roller will engage in the recess 39 in the plate 21, and since the plate is resiliently held in engagement with the roller, the handle will be yieldably locked in its upright position. If, however, a sufficient force is exerted on the handle tending to move the same rearwardly about its points of pivotal connection to the motor casing, the plate 21 will be moved rearwardly against the force exerted by the spring, and the recess 39 will be disengaged from the Thus the handle may assume any desired angular position during use of the vacuum cleaner and movement of the same over the fioor. During the return of the handle to its upright position, the cam portion 42 of the plate 21 will ride on the roller 36, thus forcing ,the plate rearwardly, until the recess again registers with the roller, at which time the handle will again be locked in its upright position.

From the above it will be apparent that the invention provides a locking means which may be conveniently associated with a vacuum cleaner handle to hold the same in a predetermined desired position with reference to the casing to which the handle is pivotally secured. The locking means is yieldable in its action so that while.

the handle will be securely held in the desired position, it may be moved away from this position by the exertion of a sufficient force on the handle While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purposes of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination with a motor casing, a fan casing fixed to said motor casing, and a handle having a bifurcated end pivotally secured to said motor casing, of a bracket fixed to said fan casing, a roller carried by said bracket, a head formed on the end of one of the furcations of said handle, a plate pivotally secured to said head for pivotal sliding movement against the inner face thereof, a boss formed on said head and extending through an enlarged opening in said plate for limiting pivotal movement of said plate, said plate having a forward cam edge adapted to engage said roller during a portion of the pivotal movement of said handle and having a notch in said edge adapted to receive said roller when the handle is in its upright position, and a spring mounted in a bore in said head and engaging a lug struck from said plate for urging said plate toward said roller whereby disengagement of said roller from said notch is yieldably resisted.

2. In combination, a handle, a support therefor, a connecion between the handle and support including a stud permitting the handle to swing relative to the support, and means for detachably holding the handle in a; predetermined position relative to the support including a projection on the support, and a spring pressed member on the handle having an opening receiving the stud, and a notch for receiving the projection.

3. In combination, a handle, a support therefor, a connection between the handle and support including a stud permitting the handle to swing relative to the support, and means for detachably holding the handle in a predetermined position relative to the support including a spring pressed member on the handle having an opening receiving the stud and having an edge provided with a cam portion and a notch, and a projection on the support alternately engaging said cam portion and notch.

4. In a device of the class described, a pivotally mounted handle, means providing a projection adjacent said handle, and means for releasably locking the handle in a predetermined position, including a spring pressed member pivoted on the handle and having a recess for receiving said projection, one edge of said recess being fashioned to prevent displacement of the projection from the recess upon movement of the handle relative to the projection, and another edge of said recess being fashioned to permit removal of the projection from the recess upon movement of the handle in a predetermined direction relativeto said projection.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a motor casing, a fan casing associated with the motor casing, and a handle pivotally connected to the motbr casing, of a bracket fixed to the fan casing, an element projecting from. the bracket, a plate pivotally connected to the handle, having an edge engageable with the element and provided in said edge with a notch for receiving the element, and yieldable means urging said plate toward said element whereby the edge and notch will be successively engaged with said element upon pivotal movement of the handle, the construction of said notch being such that the element may be removed from the notch upon pivotal movement of the handle.

6. In combination, a handle, a support therefor, a stud pivotally connecting the handle to said support, and means adjacent the stud for detachably holding the handle in a predetermined position relative to the support including a projection on the support, a plate pivotally connected to the handle between the latter and its support and having a cam portion and'a notch successively engageable with the projection, means associated with the stud for limiting pivotal movement of the plate, and means urging the plate toward the projection so that said cam portion and notch will successively engage the projection upon movement of the handle, including a lug on the plate, and a yieldable element carried by the handle and engaging said lug.

7. In combination, a handle, a support therefor, a stud pivotally connecting the handle to said support, and means for detachably holding the handle in a predetermined position relative to the support including a projection on the support, and a spring pressed plate pivotally connected to the handle, having an opening receiving the stud whereby the latter may serve to limit pivotal. movement of the plate and provided at one edge with a cam portion and a notch that are successively engageable with the projection.

8. In combination, a handle, a support therefor, a pivotal connection between the handle and support, means for detachably holding the handle in a predetermined position relative to the sup- Ill nmares port including a projection on the support, 'a pivotally mounted plate carried by the handle, said plate being limited in its pivotal movement by the pivotal connection between the handle and support and provided at an edge thereof with a cam portion and a notch that are successively engageable with the projection aforesaid upon movement of the handle, and means urging the plate toward the projection so that said projection will be engaged by either the cam portion or notch, a portion of said last mentioned means being yieldable to permit disengagement of the notch from said projection by mere force exerted upon the handle.

$2. In combination, a handle, a support therefor, a pivotal connection between said handle and support, means for detachably holding the handle in a predetermined position relative to the support including a projection on the support, a pivotally mounted member carried by the handle and provided with a cam portion and a notch that are successively engageable with the projection upon movement of the handle, and means constantly urging the plate toward the projection so that the latter will be engaged by either the came portion or notch, a portion of said last mentioned means being yieldable to permit disengagement oi the notch from said projection by mere force exerted upon the handle.

EDWIN S. CRISPEQ. 

